Southwest Community Programs

The Southwest Community Police Station is proud of its many community programs. Community Policing involves the Police and Community working together in partnership to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and enhance the quality of life. Our youth programs develop positive relationships between the youth and officers of our community, and present positive alternatives to joining gangs to survive in their neighborhoods. We find that our community programs are a great way to keep in touch with the community and serve those who live and work here. The following is a list and description of our community programs.

Neighborhood Watch and Block Clubs are crime prevention programs that enlist the active participation of the residents in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities. The programs consist of neighborhood meetings, distribution of information on crime trends in the area and implementing preventive measures to decrease criminal activity.

The program is initiated by a group of community members joining together to form a Block Club in their area. The group then appoints a Block Club Captain to set meeting dates, ensure information is shared among the group and contact Southwest Community Police Station if they want an officer to attend their meetings. For further information, contact the Southwest Area Police Assisted Community Enhancement (PACE) Unit at 213-847-5800.

The Kid Watch Program is a joint effort between the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the University of Southern California. The program began in 1996 and targeted five schools around USC. Citizens volunteer to watch children walk to and from school while in their own yards or residences, and call the police for help when a child is in danger of being the victim of a crime. Volunteers go through an application process that includes a background check and training. After successfully completing the background check, the volunteers receive a distinctive placard for display in a conspicuous place, identifying their residence or business as a Kid Watch House. Kid Watch was selected by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a finalist for excellence in Community Policing for 1999. For further information, contact Senior Lead Officer Randy Cochran at 213-847-5803 or the Southwest Area Police Assisted Community Enhancement (PACE) Unit at 213-847-5800.

The Safe House Program is a City-wide program adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District. A Safe House is a home or business where a child may go for safety or assistance when the child encounters a threat or other emergency while enroute to or from school. Volunteers go through an application process that includes a background check. After successfully completing the background check, the Safe House participant will receive a distinctive placard for display in a conspicuous place, identifying their residence or business as a recognized Safe House. Those interested may apply by contacting their local school principal’s office. For further information, contact the Southwest Community Police Station PACE Unit at 213-847-5800.

The Hispanic Outreach is a program designed to address the needs of the increasing Hispanic population in Southwest Area. Community members meet once a month with the Hispanic Outreach officers and receive an update on activities and crime statistics. The members of the outreach also have an opportunity to ask questions such as how to report a crime and how to receive help from the police when there is an identified crime problem in their neighborhood. As officers take time to meet with the community members, answer questions, share information on Southwest Area’s Community Programs and offer solutions and help for crime problems, the fear of police and other barriers are broken down. The outreach officers have also established a link with the local schools. For further information, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office at 213-290-3135.

The purpose of the Community-Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) is to identify crime problems or problems of disorder and neglect that can breed serious crime, develop strategies to address these issues, and mobilize community and governmental resources which can help solve these problems. The C-PAB liaison with police and advise the leadership of the Southwest Area of the concerns of the community. They also participate in the monthly New Employee Orientation. The membership includes representatives from the religious, social, educational and business entities within the Southwest Area. This is one way the police and community work in partnership to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and enhance the quality of life in our area. For further information on C-PAB, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office at 323-290-3136.

The Southwest Area Police Clergy Council acts as a liaison between the police and their congregations. They also participate in activities that help the community and support the personnel of the Southwest Area. The Council participates in the monthly New Officer Orientation held for employees new to the Southwest Area. The membership is comprised of local pastors, associate pastors, associate ministers, elders and evangelists.

For further information on the Police Clergy Council, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office at 213-847-6084.

The Southwest Area Business Boosters are a group of local business persons who provide opportunities for the youth of the community to participate in educational and recreational activities designed to prepare them for adulthood. The Boosters also donate much needed equipment to the Southwest Community Police Station. The Boosters honor sworn and civilian Southwest Area Employees quarterly through a lunch and awards presentation. For further information, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office at 213-847-5800.

The Southwest Area Citizen Volunteer Program provides support to the personnel of the Southwest Area. Volunteers perform a variety of tasks including assisting at the front desk, analytical duties, bulk mailings, clerical, data entry, filing, fundraisers, phone banks, youth programs and the Crisis Response Team. The program is comprised of area residents, business owners, professionals, students, and college interns who want to make a difference in their community. To become a volunteer you must be 21 years of age or a high school senior, with no felony convictions. For further information, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office at 213-847-5800.

The Reserve Police Officer Corps is comprised of two types of reserve officers: line reserve police officers who have been trained and are qualified to perform law enforcement tasks and work with police officers and technical reserve police officers who perform non-enforcement tasks such as working the area front desk allowing officers to work field assignments.

The line reserve police officers receive over 700 hours of training. The training is similar to a full-time police officer’s academy training. This training includes instruction in law, physical training, report writing and firearms.

The technical reserve officers receive over 250 hours of training similar to the line reserve police officers with the exception of firearms training.

Officer Gary Beecher is the Reserve Program Coordinator. Officer Beecher has been an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department for five years. His previous assignments include Special Problems Unit, Narcotics Division, CRASH and patrol. For further information, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office at 213-847-6083.

The Cadet Program provides insight into law enforcement careers for youths between 14 and 20 years of age. The program also develops positive relationships between the police and youth. Cadets receive training in front desk operations, field searches for evidence, communications, report writing, crime prevention disaster assistance and crowd and traffic control. Those interested in applying for the program must be between 14 and 20 years of age, maintain a "C" grade average in school, have a written recommendation from a teacher or other adult, complete a background investigation and demonstrate a willingness to serve the public and participate in Cadet training and activities. After successfully completing the application process, the cadet candidates attend the Cadet Academy. The training includes eight weekly sessions of eight hours each. For further information, contact Officer Martha Campos or Officer Guillermo Fajardo at 213-847-6083 or 213-847-5800. Click here for more information on other LAPD Youth Programs.

The Deputy Auxiliary Police (DAP) Program is designed for children between the ages of 9 and 13. The program promotes a sense of civic responsibility, good citizenship, a positive relationship with law enforcement and develops leadership abilities in the participants. The DAP also participates in recreational field trips. For further information, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office (Officer Gus Tarin) at 213-847-5800. Click here for more information on other LAPD Youth Programs.

The Southwest Area Sports Program includes a variety of sports activities for children between the ages of eight and 13. Softball and basketball are two of the sports the youth participate in. Participants are assigned to a team and compete with teams from other areas. Recently, Southwest Area youth participated in a basketball league, where they joined PAL sponsored basketball teams and played against teams from other areas. An awards banquet was held and trophies were passed out to all participants. For further information, contact the Southwest Community Relations Office at 213-847-6083.

The Police Activities League (P.A.L.) Program is a privately funded State-wide organization. Its purpose is to promote a positive relationship between the youth of our community and law enforcement. This is accomplished through recreational, educational and social skill building activities, such as, camping trips, basketball. Football, off-road motorcycle riding, it is open to youth between the ages of 8 to 18. For current programs and activities about PAL access their website at CalPal. For further information on the PAL, contact Officer Lori Greenlea at 213-847-6084. Click here for more information on other LAPD Youth Programs.

The Jeopardy Program is a gang prevention and intervention program. The program is designed for boys and girls between the ages of eight and 17 and their parents. The Jeopardy Program uses a positive approach to help children "at risk" of being involved in gang or criminal activity. These children realize they do not have to believe the myth that they must join a gang to survive in their neighborhoods. The program includes referrals to local community counseling services, monthly family seminars and positive alternatives to gang membership.

The program provides "at-risk" youth with the opportunity to develop self-esteem, discipline and the ability to set long and short term goals. The program also helps to improve academic performance, eliminate truancy and increase the self esteem and the self-confidence of the participants.

The Jeopardy program is administered through the Operations South Bureau Juvenile Detectives. For further information contact Southwest Area Juvenile Detectives, Officer Erwin Rocha 213 847-5800.